THE REGULATOR end of the Sukhna Lake is left with just a handful of lotus plants and flowers, as a large number of them have been uprooted to be used in two pools of the Capitol Complex, for decorative purposes on the occasion of the International Yoga Day on June 21. However, the plants along with the idea have been dumped by the administration.

Shripad Yesso Naik, Union Minister of State, ministry of Ayush, had during his visit on June 11 directed the Chandigarh administration to use white and pink colour lotus flowers, symbol of the BJP, to decorate the Complex for the event.

The engineering department uprooted lotus flowers, white in colour, from the rear end of the lake. They had also put a few flowers in both the pools on a trial basis, which failed. With no soil in the base of the pools, the workers could not make the flowers float properly. They made an unsuccessful attempt by tying small pieces of bricks on the roots of the flowers.

The department was also in touch with a city-based nursery for getting lotus flowers.

GS Dhillon, who goes to Sukhna Lake daily for morning walk, said he was surprised to find the flowers missing from the lake. “They looked so beautiful. It’s a shame that the flowers were uprooted and now are not being used,” said Dhillon.

When contacted, UT superintending engineer CB Ojha said the department had uprooted only a few lotus flowers. “We uprooted only some flowers and not aware about who took the remaining flowers,” said Ojha.

UT environment department director Santosh Kumar told Chandigarh Newsline that there a large number of lotus flowers still remain at the Regulator end of the lake.

He, however, said the lotus flower regrows quickly. “Every year, we have to get them cleared by engineering department so that they don’t spread to other parts of the lake,” said Kumar. The department has now decided to use roses for decorating the pools.

For beautification, the administration is going ahead with its plan of planting around 4,000 ornamental plants at the Complex at cost of Rs 4.35 lakh. Also, a total of 1,000 earthen pots with several varieties of flowers will been placed across the venue. As many as 200 each Dwarf Chandni, Tecoma Stans, Hamelia Patens, Ficus Tall, Junipers and Areca Palm; 50 Golden Bottle Topiary and 2,000 Ground Cover will be planted at the Capitol Complex.